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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2018)
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon The Ranger’s Corner Ian Reid Sisters District Ranger Sisters gets through burning season To kick off a recent Deschutes Forest Collaborative Project steer- ing committee meeting, the chairwoman asked each member what spring meant to us. Answers from the group included prescribed fire smoke, the commerce of local businesses, wildflow- ers and mushrooms emerg- ing from the warming soil, mountain-biking and other forms of outdoor recreation, birds returning and singing their breeding songs. Overall, spring brings a general sense of renewal and all of those activities are occurring right here on your Sisters Ranger District. Let’s start with prescribed burning. Underburns are one of the most cost-effective and ecologically appropriate ways to reduce surface and ladder fuels around commu- nities. Combined with com- mercial and noncommercial thinning and mowing, where appropriate, they give agency administrators and firefight- ers a respectable chance to keep our summer wildfires away from homes and other important values. Such was the case in last year’s Milli Fire, which came within a rifle shot of communities but was successfully managed by using previously treated areas as anchor points. Some community mem- bers have asked recently why don’t we only burn on week- days and leave the week- ends smoke-free? The short answer is prescribed burning involves narrow environmen- tal and weather conditions to be able to achieve our desired outcomes, in addi- tion to receiving approval from our regulatory agency partners. When those condi- tions and approvals occur on weekends, we need to be nimble and mobilize quickly to treat those areas closest to residential areas before con- ditions change. We have con- sidered community events this spring to minimize impacts to tourism and public health, and the few mornings with smoke settling briefly into town paled in compari- son to last summer’s thick layer of eye-burning smoke. Recently, in his acclaimed “Era of Megafires” presen- tation (see YouTube), Dr. Paul Hessburg asked Sisters residents how we wanted our fire and how we wanted our smoke. In manageable doses or in epic proportions? We sincerely appreciate the patience and tolerance of Sisters Country as we reduce hazardous fuels around communities. With respect to commer- cial and personal-use gather- ing on your National Forest, the woods are busy with wild- mushroom pickers, pine- cone collectors and firewood cutters. The Sisters Ranger Station has the appropriate maps and permits available at a nominal fee. Check in regularly for special fire- wood areas that may come available later in the season. The Milli fire area and other, older prescribed burns in mixed conifer stands pro- vide excellent morel mush- room-picking, but please remember picking is pro- hibited in wilderness areas. Longer days also mean that recreational opportuni- ties abound on the Sisters Ranger District this spring. Pursuing wild turkeys with bow or shotgun is a rapidly growing activity. Or, watch birds and other wildlife through the lens of binocu- lars or cameras. Good fishing options include Suttle Lake and the Metolius River/Lake Billy Chinook, and camping in the Metolius basin is tough to beat. Hiking, mountain biking, and stock riding on the many miles of trail sur- rounding Sisters are always rewarding ways to spend the day and get some exercise. As you explore your local National Forest this spring, please remember to watch out for log truck traffic as we continue to have active harvest activity and associ- ated haul near Crossroads on Road 15 and on Melvin Butte on the 16 and 1628 road systems. If you would like to learn more about any of our plan- ning projects, please visit w w w. f s . u s d a . g o v / m a i n / deschutes/landmanagement/ projects to sign up for our electronic scoping list. Or, give us a call at the ranger station at 541-549- 7700. We would love to hear from you and help you get the most out of your experi- ence on the Sisters Ranger District! It’s all yours! Natural & Artifi cial 541-549-6566 484 W. Washington Ave., Ste. B We’re committed to your dental health! Exceptional Health, Prevention & Aesthetics For Your Family! Trevor Frideres d.m.d. Ben Crockett, d.d.s. p 541-549-9486 f 541-549-9110 410 E. Cascade Ave. • P.O. Box 1027 • Sisters Hours: Mon., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tues.-Wed., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thurs., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. PHOTO PROVIDED The Miller family is bringing Young Life back to Sisters. YOUNG LIFE: Faith-based organization helps adolescents Continued from page 7 recruiting community sup- porters, it has been con- firmed that Young Life will be starting up in the fall. “Young Life brings a message of hope to teenag- ers,” said Shannon Miller. “We find adults who genu- inely care about kids and put them in a place where they can help them navi- gate the difficult waters of adolescence.” Young Life groups exist in communities through- out America and beyond. The organization has been around for more than 70 years. Miller explains that though Young Life is a faith- based program, the approach is not pushy. “We love kids for who they are regardless of the faith path they may take,” she said. “We really hope Young Life will be rekindled and flourish like it did in the past years.” The Millers are also excited to bring their four children, ranging from 5 to 14 years old, to Sisters in this new chapter of the family’s life. “We found a house and will be mov- ing to Sisters in July,” said Shannon. “We love to be outside, to have adventures, and to have a kitchen full of friends.” To learn more about Yo u n g L i f e , S h a n n o n Miller can be contacted at shannon_miller72@yahoo. com or at 206-356-0972. Serving Sisters Since 1976 Hair & Nails Smile, Sisters! 19 ng i r p s r u o For all y t needs projec ! s r e t s i S n e i FREE right her Local Delivery Lumber • Hardware • Paint Fencing & Decking • Doors & Windows Hours: M-F 8 to 5, Sat. 8 to 4:30, Closed Sundays 440 N. Pine St. • 541-549-8141 • www.hoyts.net
